*Before purchasing a Golden Retriever or any other breed of puppy, we strongly suggest that you do your homework and research the breed and potential breeders. First of all, you should be fully informed about about the responsibilities of owning a Golden Retriever, and secondly, you should be prepared to ask breeders numerous of questions.
*We cannot stress this strongly enough- DO NOT purchase a puppy on impulse or whim. Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment and you must be willing to put the necessary time and effort into raising a new puppy. In choosing a puppy, you should visualize the adult dog, both physically and its behavior. Also you need to consider how it will fit into your home, as well into your lifestyle.
*A Golden Retriever is a large dog. They have a thick dense coat that requires regular daily grooming. Please keep in mind that even with the most diligent grooming and care. The Golden shed throughout the year. Some Golden's like to dig, so be prepared. If shedding hair and dirty paws are going to be a problem, a Golden is definitely not a bred for you.
*A Golden Retriever requires a great deal of exercise and attention. They "demand" tremendous amounts of human companionship, needing more social interaction with people than most other breeds. Golden's that are left alone for extended periods of time, day after day, become bored. Sometimes this can incite excessive barking that can annoy your neighbors. If work or school keeps your family away from home more than 8-12 hours a day, please do not choose a Golden.
* Golden's are a very active bred requiring lots of exercise on a daily basis. A secure fenced yard a must. This will allow your Golden to exercise in a safe environment. Regular walks and runs in a safe areas are a must as well, regardless of the weather.
*Golden's are intelligent and can learn very quickly from a early age, given the right guidance. Puppy socialization classes can be started as young as 12 weeks(following the third combo puppy shot) and obedience classes can follow starting at 5-6 months. Such classes are a must for a bred of this size and activity level, and will ensure your dog develops into a good canine citizen.
*As the puppy grows older, participating in such activities as obedience, agility, tracking, hunt test and therapy work will help form a strong bond between the two of you.
*If you still think a Golden is the bred for you and your family, then your adventure is just beginning. Finding a reputable, supportive breeder is your next step. Look for a breeder who asks you many questions, but is willing to answer all your questions as well.
Qualities To Look for When Finding a Reputable Breeder
*Seek the breeder whose first concern is producing puppies of a sound temperament and structure. Also look for a breeder who knowledgeable and experienced, and whose responsibilities are directed to a betterment of the bred. Search for that are homes raised and well socialized. Those first 8 weeks are very important for the future development of the puppy.
*WE cannot stress enough the importance of a well-socialized puppy, raised responsible, reputable breeder.
*We feel that puppies should remain together as a litter until 8 weeks of age so they have the opportunity to interact not only with mom, but with each other. You should always be able to view mom when you go to visit the litter. Her temperament and actions will be a good indication of how the puppies will turn out, as she has played the major role in raising them for the past few weeks. It is not always possible to see the sire as many breeders send there females away to be bred or do breedings through the use of fresh or frozen semen that has been shipped from a distance.
*Make sure both the sire and the dam of the litter have all their clearance documentations in order. This means that the breeder has had VETERINARY SPECIALISTS examine and certify the parents' hips,elbows,eyes and heat prior to using them for a breeding program. The hips and elbows must be x-rayed after two years old, and then certified though OFA(Orthopedic Foundation Association). OFA will ONLY accept hips and elbows for their final grading after the age of 24 months. The eyes should be examined on a yearly basis by Board Certified Ophthalmologist, and hearts once after one year of age by Board Certified Cardiologists. Ask the breeder to show you the proper clearances for the sire and dam, and they should be willing to fulfill this request.
*Ask the breeder if he or she belongs to any breed clubs(national or local). These clubs each have a Codes of Ethics that breeders are required to follow in regard to the breeding sound dogs.
These will include:
* Providing the terms and conditions of a contract.
* Preforming all clearances on the dogs prior to breeding.
* Proper care of ALL animals on their property
* Limited registration requirements and spay/neuter conditions for puppies sold as pets or companion dogs.
* Buy-back or placement conditions regarding unwanted dogs/puppies.
* Agreeing not to release puppies too early to their new homes.
* Ensuring the puppies have been examined by a veterinarian at which time they received their first vaccinations and de-worming medication.
* Providing clients with a " Puppy Package" containing information on pedigrees, diet, clearances, grooming, training, safe toys to use, pictures, reading materials and so on.
* Your puppy's final registration papers should be sent to you within six months from the date of purchase. A good breeder will also be willing to take the puppy or adult back for any reason or help you find a suitable home. Most breeders include this stipulation in their contracts.
* Remember, just because a breeder registers its dog through the American Kennel Club), this does not provide and guarantees or mean that he or she adhered specifically to ethical standards. AKC is only a breed registry that deals strictly with registrations.
* A reputable breeder should be available to you for the many questions you have once you get your new family member home.
THE BOTTOM-LINE: You probably will pay more for a puppy from a responsible, reputable breeder: but health and temperament as well as the environment in which the puppy was raised should be the most important consideration. Although there are no guarantee in life, a healthy puppy from a healthy litter will save you time, money and headache in the future. Additionally, the knowledge and information that a reputable breeder will be able to offer will pay off in the long run. Remember, you are purchasing a dog that will hopefully be a part of your family for the next 10+ years. Don't make a hasty decision as it will likely be one that you regret.
THING TO AVOID WHEN FINDING A BREEDER
**You do NOT want a breeder:
* Who is breeding so the kids can witness the miracle of birth.
*Who says its healthier for mom to have at least one litter before being spayed.
*Who is looking to make a profit from the puppies.
* Who doesn't obtain the proper clearances through the proper channels and specialists. Don't be fooled by a breeder who claims "My vets says the dog is fine or the dog has never been lame or sick in its life so we don't do the clearances. " Make certain both parents of your puppy have their main clearances done by the proper specialist !!!
* You do NOT want a puppy from a female who is less than two years old. Besides possibly not having all her final clearances, we feel she is not mentally ready to be raising a litter as she is still a puppy herself.
* Be careful of breeders who want to get rid of there puppies as early as six weeks old. after this age, puppies start to become become more work and cost more money to raise. Again it is important for the puppies to stay together longer to learn how to socially interact with each other appropriately.
* Avoid breeders who sell their puppies without a guarantee of registration papers. Usually there is a reason the parents are not registered. This may be:
* The parents are not registered themselves.
* One or both of the parents are an AKC limited registration, and should not be bred.
*The owners do not want want to spend the extra money and time to register through AKC and to get the proper clearances.
* Stay away from a litter if Mom is nervous and snappy around her puppies or you. You don't want a puppy from that litter, as mom will pass some of her temperament traits onto her puppies. If the puppies are not being raised in a home setting and are not well socialized or the environment is dirty and over crowded, think again about purchasing a puppy from that breeder.
